Police are searching for a man who robbed a grocery store Thursday afternoon.

The holdup happened shortly after noon at the Giant store on Shillington Road, also known as Route 724, in Spring Twp., Berks Co.

At least 100 people were inside the store at the time of the crime, detectives said.

"Yes, that's a little scary, especially when we live literally two blocks away," said Gillian Stevenson, of Sinking Spring.

"Oh, my God," said Judy Barr, of Muhlenberg Township. "It's just really scary."

The robber waited in line at one of the cash registers, and when it was his turn, he told the cashier he had a gun and demanded cash, police said. The cashier complied with the robber's demands, investigators said.

"It's pretty crazy. We come here all the time. This is the grocery store we always come to," said Vince Wertman, of Sinking Spring.

Witnesses said they saw the robber leave the store and jump into a getaway car.

"I saw a car, a Toyota maroon color, going out of the parking lot," said Sig Sobiesiak, a witness. "I saw it going on 724 toward 422 and Penn Avenue."

"If you try to defend yourself or whatever, or defend somebody else, you can get shot and stuff and killed," said Barr.

A Western Berks Ambulance crew was shopping for food inside the store at the time of the robbery, heard the commotion, and radioed the Berks County Communications Center for police, officials said.

No injuries were reported.

"I'm glad everyone is okay," said Kristen Wertman.

Police described the robber as a white man in his 20s with tattoos on his arms.

Anyone with information about the holdup can call Crime Alert Berks County at 877-373-9913. A cash reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information that leads to an arrest.